HoT Travel SpoT

A progressive spirit & vibrant urban setting makes West Hollywood one of the world’s top lesbian & gay vacation spots. Lounge at a rooftop hotel pool, dine in one of the quirky restaurants or indulge in a nearly endless variety of nightlife. With more than one-third of the population identifying as LGBT, West Hollywood is at the center of LGBT California nightlife. It also boasts luxurious spas & unparalleled shopping. Located at the foot of the Hollywood Hills & at the center of all the best attractions in greater L.A., WeHo as the locals call it, is at the leading edge of culture, entertainment & design. With trendsetting hotels & unique cultural attractions, the 1.9-square mile enclave of WeHo invites you to be yourself in the city that prides itself on “living forward.”

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Amy

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If you have never been the little isle of paradise known as Key West it's time for you to pack your bags and head south for the winter. My girlfriend introduced me to the mellow 4x2 mile island and I fell in love with it immediately. I know of nowhere else on earth where you can experience a laid back tropical vibe that is not just lesbian friendly, but lesbian welcoming. It's also very easy to get to as it is part of the US, just a puddle jump from the tip of Florida. This is an ideal getaway on a budget without feeling like you're on a budget. In fact, it doesn't even feel like the US other than everyone speaks English!

As my girl and I have an affinity for food, we decided this time around that we would sample some of the unique culinary offerings of the island and share them with you. There are so many quaint restaurants we had to narrow them down to a handful of satisfying stand outs.

To start with a fantastic appetizer head on over to Mangoe's Restaurant on the main drag, Duval, for the Mushroom Martini. Relax on their gorgeous patio and enjoy a selection of wild mushrooms, sautéed in olive oil and soy sauce then garnished lightly with goat cheese, crisp croustinis and a green olive tapanade. This place is known on the island for their Floribbean and American food so feel free to stay for a main course of fresh fish or the local delicacy conch.

Make sure you also visit the ocean side hot spot at the end of Duval where we have watched topless women frolic in the water while enjoying our lunch. The Southernmost Beach Cafe serves breakfast too but we're not early risers. We dined on the Tropical Grilled Chicken Sandwich with sweet pineapple slices, tangy jack cheese and creamy avo mayo. The sandwiches are served with your choice of sides. We were on vacation so we opted for the fries. I didn't ask but they must double fry those things because they were super crispy.

Another great spot for lunch is MargaritaVille. Yes, the chain restaurant. We were both pleasantly surprised by the quality of food. You have to try the Volcano Nachos, but bring a group of friends because this dish is monstrous! Also worthy of note were the perfectly battered and fried onion rings and the fact they have a tasty turkey burger. The menu is so varied, everyone at the table is bound to find something they will enjoy. Follow with a Margarita of course.

Once, your face is stuffed it's high time for another cocktail! Drinking is a staple on this island. We highly recommend you stroll over to Fogarty's and pull up a chair at their Flying Monkeys Saloon. Their frozen concoctions will not only cool you off but have you shit faced in no time. Their grain alcohol specialties are especially strong. There are too many good ones to pick a favorite, but we adore the Strawberry Daiquiri, Pina Colada and the Dirty Monkey- a mix of their Chocoholic and Banana Daiquiri. Go ahead and buy the souvenir cup or squeeze bottle because you'll get a discount on refills on this trip and every other! Totally worth it ;)

For a nice seafood dinner, moped on down to Front Street and the A & B Lobster House. Make sure to sit on the wrap around patio facing the water. My girlfriend dined on the Sunset Surf and Turf. Generous portions of both the lobster and filet with red potatos. I had the Sauteed Jumbo Scallops served with braised shiitake mushrooms, asparagus and wonderful lemon garlic butter sauce. Fancy food without the snooty atmosphere.

For a fun family style dinner you have to hit Abbondanza Italian Restaurant. We were with a large group and everyone loved their dishes. From calamari to the tortellini, all the portions were large, and we ate every last bite! Don't forget to order a round of the roasted garlic bullbs as well. Make sure everyone has at least a taste so as not to offend one another later ;)

For dessert we suggest Mangoe's Chocolate Pate. We have never experienced anything quite like it. It's a deep & dark flourless confection served atop a delicious raspberry sauce. A rich & romantic dessert. And order up one of their mango specialties drinks to go with it, refreshing and perfectly fit for a tropical island. Another decadent dessert option is Mattheessens. OMG this place is simply insane. They bake up fresh cookies all day and leave them out on trays to cool. These treats are literally the size of your head and they are sinfully scrumptious. The peanut butter cookie was crisp on the outside yet tender and moist on the inside. Baked to perfection. They were so good that we just had to bring some home all the way across the country for our family!